Pembroke spoils Medina’s opener

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Nicole Blount (4) tries to grab a rebound from Pembroke’s Emily Shaw (23) during the Mustangs loss to the visiting Lady Dragons this evening.

Hampered by a rash of turnovers, Medina dropped a 37-30 decision to visiting Pembroke this evening in the Mustangs’ non league season opener.

Medina got off to a quick start grabbing a 14-12 first quarter lead. Molley Gross had three baskets to lead that surge as Nicole Blount, Emily Kams and Holly Heil each added one.

However, turnovers took their toll the rest of the way as the Mustangs managed a total of just 16 more points over the final three quarters.

Pembroke capitalized on those turnovers to outpoint Medina 18-6 over the middle two periods to rally into leads of 22-18 at the half and 30-20 at the three-quarter mark.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Emily Kams puts up a shot for Medina against Pembroke’s Holly Miano (10).

Medina did cut the deficit back to six at 32-26 with just under four minutes to go in the final period after a 6-0 run on two buckets by Heil and one by Rowan Hamner.

However, Medina could get no closer as five more turnovers down the stretch stymied the Mustangs comeback hopes.

Aralyse Johnson took game high scoring honors with 12 for Pembroke which improves to 3-0. Michaela Nati added 8 and Rylee Moser 6 for the Lady Dragons.

Gross and Hamner both finished with 8 points, Kams and Heil 6 each and Blount 2 for Medina. Hamner also grabbed off 12 rebounds, Gross 11 and Maddy Winters 6.

The Mustangs next host Olmsted of Buffalo at 5 p.m. Thursday.